Really @NHLPlayerSaftey

Chicago’s Patrick Kane fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for slashing Anaheim’s Nick Ritchie.
- walleyeb1

Ritchie was running people since the 1st period, every chance he had. Hawks let him go and didn't pay enough "attention" to him.

Seem like Colliton agrees with Al.


http://www.dailyherald.co...k-with-chicago-blackhawks
- walleyeb1

Vinnie has worked hard, done what has been asked of him, not pouted or complained and on top of it all has produced at the AHL level.

If and when a chance comes he will most likely be the first call-up from Rockford.

All that being said, he should not be looked at as some savior. While he plays with speed, he really doesn't slot into a top-6 role at the NHL level. He also does not have the game or the body type to consistently fit into a physical game.

So, if he is brought up, you have to ask, who does he replace and why. He isn't replacing ADB, who is a more natural scorer with a better shot, better hands and better vision. He isn't replacing Hayden who has an NHL body and a much higher upside as a power winger. So, that leaves Bouma, Wingels and maybe Sharp (i'm leaving off Kero because he is not playing regularly, I would guess if not for fear of losing him on waivers he would be in Rockford). Wingels is a veteran NHL player and prototypical 4th line center, his body is also more suited for a heavy playoff type of game. Bouma, love or hate him, provides the heavy hits that are needed, especially come playoff time.

So, while Vinnie has seemingly earned a spot on this team, in reality, his time may be next year, or as a trade chip. He's a good story, a local kid, but like a lot of other NHL players, just supporting cast. Maybe he gets his chance because of an injury or something and changes the story.......time will tell.

Kane fined $5k for slashing incident. NHL is a joke. No fine for the hit on crow.
- BGKarras

No Lady Byng Trophy for Kaner this year.

https://twitter.com/marklazerus/status/935584600339959809
- walleyeb1

Thanks,

No Lady Byng Trophy for Kaner this year.
- Justin Lowe

well worth it...ritchie cheap shots him first after the whistle with kane skating to the bench...of course the dbag instigator gets nothing

No Lady Byng Trophy for Kaner this year.
- Justin Lowe

Oh well... Kaner has enough $ to cover that and then some. Ritchie had it coming he slashed Kane first then got the favor returned. Ritchie was taking cheap shots all night long. Hope someone noticed and pays him back

Thanks,
- riozzo

If you are going to fine Kane for the retaliation, then you need to fine Ritchie for the initial slash. If Kane didn't retaliate, they weren't calling the Ritchie slash initially.

well worth it...ritchie cheap shots him first after the whistle with kane skating to the bench...of course the dbag instigator gets nothing
- bogiedoc

I think it is more about the retaliation. I think the league wants to discourage others from taking matters into their own hands and slashing back.

On a very good team AA is a 3rd line center....You can take a tally of centers who play with Kane and he brings out the best in all-Even Handzus and an aging Richards.

You can't judge young players on a handful of games and playing center in the NHL is a tough job. All I'm saying is unless they can find someone besides AA to fill the 3rd line center role via trade, they will be exposed in the playoffs if they get there.
- Al

gee something new for this team: short top 6 center and winger and a top 4dman...

the yearly problem for a cap strangled team

I think it is more about the retaliation. I think the league wants to discourage others from taking matters into their own hands and slashing back.
- breadbag

maybe but no wonder player react...ritchie should have gotten a double minor unsportsmanlike and a slash..but not with the the way these games are called...

I think it is more about the retaliation. I think the league wants to discourage others from taking matters into their own hands and slashing back.
- breadbag

You are probably right breadbag, but thats a horsepoop way to do it. Call the games correctly and call all the crap leading up to it and you will slow it down just as easily.
McCauley and St. Laurent let a whole bunch of crap go last night, a lot of it right on the "dirty" edge, especially once the Ducks were down 3. Neither ref had their hand up on the initial slash by Ritchie, it took a two hander by Kane to get them to acknowledge the one that should have been called (and called multiple times before hand)

On a very good team AA is a 3rd line center....You can take a tally of centers who play with Kane and he brings out the best in all-Even Handzus and an aging Richards.

You can't judge young players on a handful of games and playing center in the NHL is a tough job. All I'm saying is unless they can find someone besides AA to fill the 3rd line center role via trade, they will be exposed in the playoffs if they get there.
- Al

Honesty they'll be lucky to make the playoffs. Other than the 4th line who are constantly skating, and I mean constantly offensively/defensively this team does not put in the effort defensively, night after night i see players with great speed coast defensively, Panik, Saad, Toews, Kane, Sharp, Schmaltz to name a few. Saad got on his horse last night when Franson was in to deep to cover for him but its a rare rare sight to see this teams fast skaters put in 100% on the defensive side. Schmaltz puts in 100% if the puck is in the offensive zone and he thinks he has a chance to steal it but over 200 feet of hockey, nope.

The little winning streak is nice but this teams fast players continue not to give 100% without the puck, and those poor habits flow right into the playoffs.

The hardest working team the Hawks ever had was 2013, game in and game out they skated their assess off.

I think it is more about the retaliation. I think the league wants to discourage others from taking matters into their own hands and slashing back.
- breadbag

Maybe players wouldn't take matters into their own hands so often if the league consistently called infractions as they actually happen and the Dept. of Player Safety didn't seem so arbitrary and capricious in how they discipline.

If the Hawks want to be in the game tonight, that means all the best players on this team must skate 100% of the time, if they don't then they'll probably lose 4 or 5 to 1.

Maybe players wouldn't take matters into their own hands so often if the league consistently called infractions as they actually happen and the Dept. of Player Safety didn't seem so arbitrary and capricious in how they discipline.
- 333inthe3rd

A league that doesn't protect its star players? They wonder why their ratings aren't as good as other professional organizations.

I was wrong on Rangers but they had won like 6 in a row...

More to hockey than possession #'s, but I agree they are playing better...I have found they have played better since Forsling returned.

...So lets recap since they lost to NJ at home.

Beat the Rangers who are no great shakes as they have played a bunch of home games without accumulating points.

Played well in Pitt and Crawford was big time.
TB-played well to start and then out played-Crawford was the hero and the reason for the point.
Good game in Florida but the Panthers are bad.
Beat up on an injured team last night and played well.

I had a casual conversation with someone in the Anaheim front office last night. They are just looking to get out this road trip alive and stay close to .500.
I would say losing Getzlaf matters at least as much to them, probably more so than the Hawks losing Toews to injury... Plus they had others injured.

I agree the Hawks have been better, they weren't as bad as they seemed before and now although winning are probably not as good as they seem. Right now they are what they are and have been-a playoff bubble team that needs to find consistency and they aren't alone.

Eddie O said last year he had the Hawks down for 18 goalies wins. That's a lot, and if the same thing happens this season don't be shocked if they are done early again.

I'm not writiing this season off but lets see how they stand come the first week in Jan. Hawks have hardly any home games in Dec. and are gone from Dec 18 to Jan 5. If they come out of this stretch in decent shape then there is cause for optimism.
- Al

You keep saying the Rangers aren't great but then mentioned they'd just won 6 in a row before facing the Hawks which suggests they're at least can win lol. Idk it's like moving the finish line.

Honestly, it sounds like you're looking for excuses to dismiss the good play. I don't think that is what you're doing but it comes off that way imo. Yeah, the Ducks are depleted which is why the Hawks won by a large margin. But facing 8 out of 10 teams that are in or near the playoffs and playing well (even if they didn't win them all) is playing good.

And Crawford has been good but not quite the level he was at before - he's let in quite a few softies as of late (that Philly game was almost all on him having a really bad game) including the only Pens goal scored, two of the Rangers ones, and one last night. Eddie O is wrong - he's just looking at shots against and not quality of chances imo (and some of those shots against are cause of all the damn penalties they're taking this season). They Hawks have been above water in terms of shot metric numbers in all categories in all but 9 of their games, though some of those games were pretty terrible ngl. None of those games were in the last 10, though.

Honesty they'll be lucky to make the playoffs. Other than the 4th line who are constantly skating, and I mean constantly offensively/defensively this team does not put in the effort defensively, night after night i see players with great speed coast defensively, Panik, Saad, Toews, Kane, Sharp, Schmaltz to name a few. Saad got on his horse last night when Franson was in to deep to cover for him but its a rare rare sight to see this teams fast skaters put in 100% on the defensive side. Schmaltz puts in 100% if the puck is in the offensive zone and he thinks he has a chance to steal it but over 200 feet of hockey, nope.

The little winning streak is nice but this teams fast players continue not to give 100% without the puck, and those poor habits flow right into the playoffs.

The hardest working team the Hawks ever had was 2013, game in and game out they skated their assess off.
- BetweenTheDots

Alright I'm out for a while lol. The level of borderline concern trolling while the team is playing well is mind boggling to me. Y'all need to lighten up.

Honesty they'll be lucky to make the playoffs. Other than the 4th line who are constantly skating, and I mean constantly offensively/defensively this team does not put in the effort defensively, night after night i see players with great speed coast defensively, Panik, Saad, Toews, Kane, Sharp, Schmaltz to name a few. Saad got on his horse last night when Franson was in to deep to cover for him but its a rare rare sight to see this teams fast skaters put in 100% on the defensive side. Schmaltz puts in 100% if the puck is in the offensive zone and he thinks he has a chance to steal it but over 200 feet of hockey, nope.

The little winning streak is nice but this teams fast players continue not to give 100% without the puck, and those poor habits flow right into the playoffs.

The hardest working team the Hawks ever had was 2013, game in and game out they skated their assess off.
- BetweenTheDots

If they are not watching tape of Hossa on the backcheck every single day for clues, they are doing it wrong....

You keep saying the Rangers aren't great but then mentioned they'd just won 6 in a row before facing the Hawks which suggests they're at least can win lol. Idk it's like moving the finish line.

Honestly, it sounds like you're looking for excuses to dismiss the good play. I don't really get why any fan of a team does that but I guess you do you. Yeah, the Ducks are depleted which is why the Hawks won by a large margin. But facing 8 out of 10 teams that are in or near the playoffs and playing well (even if they didn't win them all) is playing good.

And Crawford has been good but not quite the level he was at before - he's let in quite a few softies as of late (that Philly game was almost all on him having a really bad game) including the only Pens goal scored, two of the Rangers ones, and one last night. Eddie O is wrong - he's just looking at shots against and not quality of chances imo (and some of those shots against are cause of all the damn penalties they're taking this season). They Hawks have been above water in terms of shot metric numbers in all categories in all but 9 of their games, though some of those games were pretty terrible ngl. None of those games were in the last 10, though.
- L_B_R

Rangers had won 8 of the previous 10 when we beat them. They are a good team. This board sometimes likes to find excuses for wins, which is weird to me.

Alright I'm out for a while lol. The level of borderline concern trolling while the team is playing well is mind boggling to me. Y'all need to lighten up.


- L_B_R

I thought the same thing when I read that. If we're just gonna be negative about a team playing very well, what's the point?

Alright I'm out for a while lol. The level of borderline concern trolling while the team is playing well is mind boggling to me. Y'all need to lighten up.
- L_B_R

I'm happy as long as the team keeps building on their record. If they can win probably 32-34 of the remaining 59 games they are likely safely in the playoffs. The Hawks often play well this time of year, so I would not be surprised to see them go on a run, especially if they keep getting contributions from guys like 15, 12, 10, 8, which give them good scoring depth.

You keep saying the Rangers aren't great but then mentioned they'd just won 6 in a row before facing the Hawks which suggests they're at least can win lol. Idk it's like moving the finish line.

Honestly, it sounds like you're looking for excuses to dismiss the good play. I don't really get why any fan of a team does that but I guess you do you. Yeah, the Ducks are depleted which is why the Hawks won by a large margin. But facing 8 out of 10 teams that are in or near the playoffs and playing well (even if they didn't win them all) is playing good.

And Crawford has been good but not quite the level he was at before - he's let in quite a few softies as of late (that Philly game was almost all on him having a really bad game) including the only Pens goal scored, two of the Rangers ones, and one last night. Eddie O is wrong - he's just looking at shots against and not quality of chances imo (and some of those shots against are cause of all the damn penalties they're taking this season). They Hawks have been above water in terms of shot metric numbers in all categories in all but 9 of their games, though some of those games were pretty terrible ngl. None of those games were in the last 10, though.
- L_B_R

First off I don't look at the game as a fan, but it's okay if you do.
I'll stand by what I wrote ...they weren't as bad s they looked in the first month and not as good as u seem to think now.
As far as the Rangers I didn't move anything they are what they are... A team who blew a bunch of home ice points in Oct. and then won 6 in a row.

The fact is there were a bunch of teams in the West clustered at 23 PT's on Thanksgivng morning. We will see who improves enough to earn a playoff spot.

As far as last year the Hawks were saved by Crawford in many games. That's his job but when the goalie has to be your best player almost every night... that usually leads to issues in the playoffs.

Let's continue the how good they are convo after Jan 1...because the Hawks M.O. Under Q is they start to roll in late Nov. then jump on the gas and have a great Dec.

I have never seen anything like the schedule they have this December... ever.
So I am anxious to see how they do in the next month.

https://theathletic.com/1...ze-blackhawks-defensemen/

This is a great read. Nice to see Q adjusting his D pairs as needed rather than just leaning heavily on the top 2. Seabs and Murphy mostly being used against second and fourth lines and are dominating. Rutta and Forsling getting higher QoC and keeping up very well. Keith is Keith, and Franson is used in offensive situations.

That maybe the worst trade i have ever seen posted on this board.
- SaskHawkFan

You're probably right, Stan would have to throw in more...probably Sikura and Jokiharju.

I'm happy as long as the team keeps building on their record. If they can win probably 32-34 of the remaining 59 games they are likely safely in the playoffs. The Hawks often play well this time of year, so I would not be surprised to see them go on a run, especially if they keep getting contributions from guys like 15, 12, 10, 8, which give them good scoring depth.
- breadbag

Tonight is a big test for this team. Let's hope they respond well. There are some positions on this team that could use an upgrade (3LC, D, & another top 9 winger would be nice) but maybe the personnel they have can be good enough. Glad to see the team is gelling. They don't have the circus trip anymore so they've needed to bond in a different way.